A few years ago when I was promoting my novel I was invited to the cleverly-named independent bookstore Read Between the Lynes in Woodstock to make an appearance. I was charmed by the lovely, warm store located in the town square, which feels like a shopping locale from another era (specifically, one that recurs again and again; Woodstock, as you may know, was where Groundhog Day was filmed.) As part of WBEZ’s closer look at Woodstock, I sent some questions to Read Between the Lynes owner and operator Arlene Lynes.
How and when did you come to Woodstock?
I came to Woodstock in March of 1997. We relocated here from New Jersey for a new position for my husband.
How has Woodstock changed since you first arrived?
Woodstock has grown with lots of new housing/retail developments in the past 16 years. Not all bad, but the flavor of agriculture is not as prominent!
What type of community is it to live and work in? Do you think it's friendlier to independent businesses than other cities?
Speaking with Read Between The Lynes' Owner Arlene Lynes: Woodstock's Hometown Bookstore
Feb. 20, 2013Crowd-sourced parenting
Feb. 19, 2013
My friend Steve Gadlin asked on Facebook recently, "What should I put under my daughter's pillow to replace her baby tooth? Funny answers only." Here are the best of the responses:Ants
Someone else's tooth
An itemized invoice
A dinosaur tooth
A dead parrot
Broccoli
A skull with all of its teeth missing except the one she placed under the pillow
More teeth
A letter that reads: Dear Izzie, Thank you for ripping me away from my family, whom I loved dearly. Ask your daddy what revenge means. Sleep tight. Love, Tooth #1
Two pounds of raw beef
A note from an evil alchemical scientist telling her he is now a little bit closer to creating a homunculus
The Spanish inquisition! (no one expects that!)
Some rad decals
Super glue
Pull out your own teeth and a note that says "we are all in this together"
A doughnut
Mexican pesos
Zulkey's Beyoncé-style documentary
Feb. 18, 2013
This weekend I reviewed Beyoncé’s documentary Life Is But A Dream for the AV Club.“Documentary” is not quite the right word, though, as I expect most documentaries to reveal something or tell a story about their subjects, but since LIBAD was produced, written and directed by its subject and basically used footage that she either took or owns, it wasn’t exactly objective.
It was tightly-controlled and highly flattering to its subject.
The Valentine's Day Baby
Feb. 14, 2013Last year I shared with my readers the wonderful Valentine's Day video my husband makes for me every February 14. This year, he had an accomplice:
Bonus: this is what my computer looked like when I came downstairs this morning:
What are you giving up for Lent?
Feb. 13, 2013
I didn’t mean for this to be Catholicism week on my blog but it’s going that way. I don’t have an interview with a saint lined up for Friday or anything though, don’t worry.
A few days ago my friend Erica asked me what I was giving up for Lent. Ugh. It’s Lent again?
My first instinct was to say "Nintendo," which has been my joke answer since about 7th grade once I had passed the point of actually wanting to play Nintendo (unlike my brother, for whom giving up Nintendo would actually have been a sacrifice.) This is an example of your traditional sarcastic Catholic answer, which often takes the form of "Catholicism" when questioned "What are you giving up for Lent?" (This year the popular sarcastic answer is "The Pope.")
List: Reasons why I'd make a pretty good pope
Feb. 11, 2013
I’d bring new fresh ideas to the Church like putting all the nuns in charge and re-instating the fun-to-say “It is right to give Him thanks and praise” and maybe swapping out the “Peace be with you” handshake for a more hygienic long-distance high-five. I tweet a lot.
There might be a slightly different attitude towards abuse of small children if a former altar server and parent of a small child were in charge.
I like both bread and wine.
Every day of Lent would be Fat Tuesday until Easter.
When pop culture makes fun of Catholicism, instead of embarrassing us by getting all outraged I’ll say something more along the lines of “Okay, you got us, that was pretty good.”
I used to take Italian and Latin.
The Church would be much more inclusive because then when parishes have church parties we could maybe rent out a club instead of having to use the old church rectory basement again.
I look good in hats and dresses.
It’s time for another Polish pope.
I got my flu shot so I’m good to go.
Most Terrifying Teen Trends
Feb. 8, 2013
You may have never heard of "vodka-facials" or "fires," but chances are your kids are familiar with these dangerous trends. Here are some of the potentially deadly activities to look out for. (If they deny knowing anything about it it's a sign they're already addicted!)
Vodka facials:
Teens pour a shot of vodka on their face and wait patiently for their pores to absorb the alcohol.
Danger: Missing out on the homework they could be doing while they wait for the liquor to absorb.
Butt Smoking:
Teens purchase cigarettes and in order to escape detection from authority figures, use their rectums to inhale and exhale smoke.
Danger: Cigarettes are expensive and will do damage to teen bank accounts, plus there is a risk of cigarette burns to otherwise pristine teenage tushies.
Somersaults:
The new planking. Instead of walking, driving, skateboarding or rollerblading, teens travel by performing continuous 360° flips down the street.
A review of Ed Zulkey's paper
Feb. 6, 2013
As you may know, I produce a literary reading series (Funny Ha-Ha, February 22!), but I’m not the only Zulkey who reads in public. My mom presents papers at her very old and fancy book club and Tuesday night I watched my dad present a piece he wrote on the American cultural history of hitchhiking through the lens of his own experience participating in this most adventurous mode of transportation.